Patents by Inventor Richard Root Woods

Richard Root Woods has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9169498
    Abstract: Processes and methods of recovering desired products from fermentation stillage are presented, including processes and methods of recovering lipids and aqueous materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Edeniq, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Root Woods, Vahik Krikorian, Juston Smithers
  • Publication number: 20150176034
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for reducing the viscosity of biomass process streams in an ethanol production process. The method comprises adding cellulase enzymes to a biomass feedstock that is fermented to produce ethanol, generating whole stillage and thin stillage streams from the post-fermentation biomass, and adding an additional enzyme or enzyme cocktail that reduces the viscosity of the whole stillage stream, thin stillage stream, concentrated thin stillage stream, and/or the syrup stream generated by evaporating the thin stillage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Kristoffer Ramos, Donna Santos, Padmavathy Desai, Prachand Shrestha, Richard Root Woods, Steven Le
  • Publication number: 20140315259
    Abstract: The present application provide methods for producing ethanol from a biomass. The methods combine sugars produced from a feedstock containing starch with sugars produced from a cellulosic biomass. The methods allow increased amounts of ethanol to be produced from a given solids concentration in the fermenters. The methods also encompass filtering the liquefied feedstock mash through a filter comprising biomass fibers. The biomass filter produces a post-filtered mash stream comprising a high concentration of sugars and a low concentration of non-fermentable solids. The methods provide numerous advantages described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Richard Root Woods, James Kacmar
  • Publication number: 20140220650
    Abstract: Processes and methods of recovering desired products from fermentation stillage are presented, including processes and methods of recovering lipids and aqueous materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Primafuel, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Root Woods, Vahik Krikorian, Juston Smithers
  • Publication number: 20140206055
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for reducing the viscosity of biomass process streams in an ethanol production process. The method comprises adding cellulase enzymes to a biomass feedstock that is fermented to produce ethanol, generating whole stillage and thin stillage streams from the post-fermentation biomass, and adding an additional enzyme or enzyme cocktail that reduces the viscosity of the whole stillage stream, thin stillage stream, concentrated thin stillage stream, and/or the syrup stream generated by evaporating the thin stillage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Edeniq, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristoffer Ramos, Donna Santos, Padmavathy Desai, Prachand Shrestha, Richard Root Woods
  • Patent number: 8702910
    Abstract: A system for producing an auxiliary fuel stream containing a low concentration of sulfur compounds from a primary fuel stream includes a first separation stage to separate a portion of a primary fuel stream into a first vapor permeate stream and a first retentate stream, a first separation stage partial condenser connected to the first vapor permeate stream condensing a portion of the first vapor permeate stream into a first liquid stage stream and a first vapor stage stream, and a second separation stage partial condenser condensing a portion of the first vapor stage stream into a second liquid stage. The stream may then be processed through a sorbent bed to effectively remove the sulfur compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Intelligent Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Kandaswamy Duraiswamy, Richard Root Woods
  • Patent number: 8609874
    Abstract: Processes and methods of recovering desired products from fermentation stillage are presented, including processes and methods of recovering lipids and aqueous materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Edeniq, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Root Woods, Vahik Krikorian, Juston Smithers
  • Patent number: 8551197
    Abstract: A hydrogen generation system is disclosed that includes an integrated steam reforming reactor. The reactor has an overall cylindrical shape, receives a reformate and separately receiving a combustion gas mixture. The reactor includes a plurality of reforming stages arranged in a stacked series of disc shaped stage configuration, wherein each reforming stage has a disc shaped combustion portion adjacent a disc shaped catalyst pack through which the reformate passes, wherein the reformate is directed axially between stages and radially within each stage; and the combustion mixture is directed radially between groups of stages and circumferentially within each stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Intelligent Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Root Woods, Brook Forest Porter, Kandaswamy Duraiswamy, Leonard Weschta, Christian Hulteberg
  • Patent number: 8372170
    Abstract: A hydrogen generation system is disclosed that has a vaporization section receiving and vaporizing fuel along with water and passing the vapor to a reformer catalyst section heated by a combustor section which generates reformate gas and is fueled by off-gas from a H2 purification unit along with a combustion air source. The off-gas outlet feeds the combustor section in the reformer assembly to heat the catalyst section and the vaporization section. An H2 storage unit connected to the H2 purification unit pure H2 outlet receives the pure H2. The storage unit has an outlet selectively connectable to the reformer assembly process inlet during startup without the need for a spark igniter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Intelligent Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Root Woods, Brook Forest Porter, Kandaswamy Duraiswamy
  • Publication number: 20130023682
    Abstract: Processes and methods of recovering desired products from fermentation stillage are presented, including processes and methods of recovering lipids and aqueous materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: Primafuel, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Root Woods, Vahik Krikorian, Juston Smithers
  • Patent number: 8236977
    Abstract: Processes and methods of recovering desired products from fermentation stillage are presented, including processes and methods of recovering lipids and aqueous materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Primafuel
    Inventors: Richard Root Woods, Vahik Krikorian, Juston Smithers
  • Patent number: 8152872
    Abstract: The thermal reformer system (1) is provided that compromises a planar assembly including a reformer zone (5), a combustion zone (6), and various inlet and outlet manifolds with associated fluid flow passages (11, 20). The reformer system further compromises an inlet combustion fluid flow passage (31) connecting an inlet combustion fluid manifold (30) and the combustion zone (6), and an outlet combustion fluid flow passage (41) connecting the combustion zone (6) and the outlet combustion fluid manifold (40). In the thermal reformer system the heat transfer and recuperation from outlet fluid flows is efficiently transferred to inlet fluid flows, in order to minimize heat loss and insulation requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Intelligent Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Root Woods, Brook F. Porter, Rahul Iyer, Leonard M. Weschta
  • Patent number: 8137527
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for collecting/concentrating carbon dioxide are disclosed. In addition, methods and apparatus for utilizing collected carbon dioxide in biofuel production and biomass cultivation are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Primafuel, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Root Woods
  • Publication number: 20110275845
    Abstract: Processes and methods of recovering desired products from fermentation stillage are presented, including processes and methods of recovering lipids and aqueous materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: Primafuel, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Root Woods, Vahik Krikorian, Juston Smithers
  • Patent number: 7763086
    Abstract: A hydrogen generation system is disclosed that includes a fuel reforming reactor generating a hydrogen-rich reformate gas at a temperature greater than 150 C, a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) hydrogen purification unit that separates the reformate gas into a relatively pure hydrogen stream and an off-gas stream, and a catalytic reactor down stream of the PSA unit that converts carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2) contained in the relatively pure hydrogen stream into methane (CH4) and water vapor (H2O). The method of purification involves generating a hydrogen-rich reformate gas at a temperature greater than 150 C in a fuel reforming reactor, separating the reformate gas into a relatively pure hydrogen stream and an off-gas stream in a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) hydrogen purification unit, and converting carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2) contained in the relatively pure hydrogen stream into methane (CH4) and water vapor (H2O) in a catalytic reactor down stream of the PSA unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Intelligent Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Root Woods, Brook Forest Porter, Kandaswamy Duraiswamy
  • Publication number: 20100172827
    Abstract: A hydrogen generation system is disclosed that has a vaporization section receiving and vaporizing fuel along with water and passing the vapor to a reformer catalyst section heated by a combustor section which generates reformate gas and is fueled by off-gas from a H2 purification unit along with a combustion air source. The off-gas outlet feeds the combustor section in the reformer assembly to heat the catalyst section and the vaporization section. An H2 storage unit connected to the H2 purification unit pure H2 outlet receives the pure H2. The storage unit has an outlet selectively connectable to the reformer assembly process inlet during startup without the need for a spark igniter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Inventors: Richard Root Woods, Brook Forest Porter, Kandaswamy Duraiswamy
  • Patent number: 7670587
    Abstract: A hydrogen generation system is disclosed that has a vaporization section receiving and vaporizing fuel along with water and passing the vapor to a reformer catalyst section heated by a combustor section which generates reformate gas and is fueled by off-gas from a H2 purification unit along with a combustion air source. The off-gas outlet feeds the combustor section in the reformer assembly to heat the catalyst section and the vaporization section. An H2 storage unit connected to the H2 purification unit pure H2 outlet receives the pure H2. The storage unit has an outlet selectively connectable to the reformer assembly process inlet during startup without the need for a spark igniter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Intelligent Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Brook Forest Porter, Kandaswamy Duraiswamy, Richard Root Woods
  • Publication number: 20090220394
    Abstract: A hydrogen generation system is disclosed that includes an integrated steam reforming reactor. The reactor has an overall cylindrical shape, receives a reformate and separately receiving a combustion gas mixture. The reactor includes a plurality of reforming stages arranged in a stacked series of disc shaped stage configuration, wherein each reforming stage has a disc shaped combustion portion adjacent a disc shaped catalyst pack through which the reformate passes, wherein the reformate is directed axially between stages and radially within each stage; and the combustion mixture is directed radially between groups of stages and circumferentially within each stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: INTELLIGENT ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Richard Root Woods, Brook Forest Porter, Kandaswamy Duraiswamy, Leonard Weschta, Christian Hulteberg
  • Publication number: 20090166264
    Abstract: A system for producing an auxiliary fuel stream containing a low concentration of sulfur compounds from a primary fuel stream includes a first separation stage to separate a portion of a primary fuel stream into a first vapor permeate stream and a first retentate stream, a first separation stage partial condenser connected to the first vapor permeate stream condensing a portion of the first vapor permeate stream into a first liquid stage stream and a first vapor stage stream, and a second separation stage partial condenser condensing a portion of the first vapor stage stream into a second liquid stage. The first vapor permeate stream is preferable sent through a vapor phase reactive desulfurization catalyst reactor to condition any sulfur compounds present into species that can be easily separated from the fuel stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Kandaswamy Duraiswamy, Richard Root Woods
  • Publication number: 20090041641
    Abstract: A hydrogen generation system is disclosed that includes a fuel reforming reactor generating a hydrogen-rich reformate gas at a temperature greater than 150 C., a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) hydrogen purification unit that separates the reformate gas into a relatively pure hydrogen stream and an off-gas stream, and a catalytic reactor down stream of the PSA unit that converts carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2) contained in the relatively pure hydrogen stream into methane (CH4) and water vapor (H2O). The method of purification involves generating a hydrogen-rich reformate gas at a temperature greater than 150 C. in a fuel reforming reactor, separating the reformate gas into a relatively pure hydrogen stream and an off-gas stream in a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) hydrogen purification unit, and converting carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2) contained in the relatively pure hydrogen stream into methane (CH4) and water vapor (H2O) in a catalytic reactor down stream of the PSA unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: Intelligent Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Root Woods, Brook Forest Porter, Kandaswamy Duraiswamy